The top reported proficiency rate is 48% in Science. The lowest is 30% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Putnam Elementary School
Putnam Elementary School, a regular public school within Poudre School District R-1, serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Fort Collins. It is not a charter school. The enrollment is small for a school of this grade span. Racially and ethnically, the student body is majority Hispanic, with a substantial White population and small shares of students who are Asian, Black, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, American Indian or Alaska Native, or of two or more races. A very large share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on the proportion of students with an Individualized Education Program and the proportion identified as English learners were not reported.
On state assessments administered through the Colorado Measures of Academic Success, Putnam’s students posted an overall proficiency index across tested subjects that places the school above the midpoint among districts in Larimer County. In English language arts, a sizable minority of students scored proficient or above. Math proficiency was lower, with fewer than a third of students reaching that bar. In fifth-grade science, nearly half of students tested met the proficiency standard, a stronger outcome than in the other two subjects. The school’s test participation rate was high in both English language arts and math and full in science. Because Putnam serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report; that metric does not apply to this school.
Fort Collins, where Putnam is located, is a mid-sized city that blends college-town and residential character. It is home to Colorado State University and has a historic Old Town district with breweries, restaurants, and shops, alongside extensive bike culture and outdoor-recreation access to the Cache la Poudre River and Rocky Mountain foothills. The economy includes major employers such as the university, a hospital authority, the school district itself, the city, and the county, as well as private-sector firms in manufacturing, high-tech, and other fields. The city has grown rapidly, especially southward, and growth management has been a local political priority since the 1980s.
The district brief for Poudre School District R-1 showed no recent changes such as bonds, mill levy overrides, or curriculum shifts that would have a four-year, lasting impact on the schools. No such information was found.
The school itself did not report data on discipline, course access, staffing, or attendance, so those dimensions cannot be described. Data on whether Putnam is a Title I school was also not available.
For a family considering Putnam, the picture is one of a small elementary school serving a student body that is economically diverse by need, with a strong majority of students from lower-income households. Academic performance on state tests is mixed: stronger in fifth-grade science and English language arts than in math, and overall slightly above the midpoint relative to other Larimer County districts when averaged across all subjects. With no data on special education or English learner enrollment, a parent who wants to understand how the school supports those groups may need to ask the school directly. The surrounding city of Fort Collins offers a lively, college-anchored environment with substantial outdoor amenities and a walkable historic downtown, though the area continues to develop and housing costs are shaped by that growth.
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